MACROZOOBENTHIC DIVERSITY OF THREE URBAN LAKES OF NAGPUR, CENTRAL INDIA

The present study was carried at three urban lakes of Nagpur City in Central India from September 2010 to August 2012 confirmed macrozoobenthic diversity of 30 species belonging to 4 different phylum, viz Platyhelminths, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca. The most abundant species are observed in Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta as larvae, nymph and naids of the aquatic insects. The presence of species belonging to Phylum Mollusca are also more in number with the occurrence of Gastropoda and Pelecypoda. The occurance of Phylum Annelida is prominent with class Oligochaeta and Hirudinea. The species belonging to Phylum Platyhelminths of class Turbellaria are least in study. The study suggests that the rich benthic fauna is due to the organic rich habitat in the three urban lakes of city.